Incumbent Becky Nioce says she has proved in a little more than a year as Shawnee County’s register of deeds that she is trustworthy and dependable, and has the experience to run the office well.

But challenger Melissa Crane says she is much more qualified than Nioce, as Crane has worked 35 years with the types of land records the register of deeds’ office keeps.

Shawnee County Republicans in the Aug. 5 primary election will choose between Nioce, 38, and Crane, 54, to be their party’s candidate for register of deeds.

The winner of that primary will face off in the Nov. 4 general election against Democrat Keith Tatum, 43.

Republicans have held the county’s register of deeds’ office continually since 1967.

The register of deeds is required by law to record and preserve all real estate-related documents for land in the county.

November’s general election winner will serve out the last two years of the fifth four-year term won in 2012 by Republican Marilyn Nichols, who was register of deeds from 1997 until she resigned for personal reasons in 2013. Nichols is treasurer for Crane’s campaign.

Nioce and Crane were among three candidates who sought to become register of deeds when Nichols’ resignation took effect May 31, 2013.

Shawnee County Republican Party precinct committee members chose Nioce on the first ballot. The vote came near the end of a meeting where Nioce told committee members she had been a Republican since she was 18 years old, while Crane said she had become a Republican in January 2013 after long agreeing with the party’s beliefs. A flyer Crane is handing out as part of her campaign lists nine reasons she is a Republican.

Crane is a property appraiser and geographic information systems/cadastral specialist for the property valuation division of the Kansas Department of Revenue. She has 13 years in the title insurance industry and more than 20 years in state and local government, and has held supervisory positions.

Crane said she has taken numerous classes over the past 35 years related to the real estate industry and property mapping.

She added: “The citizens of Shawnee County deserve an elected register of deeds who has a thorough understanding of real estate transactions and the skill set necessary to assist them and to properly record, index and archive important documents. My 35 years of experience working with legal descriptions, deeds and other documents that transfer interest in real property, make me a knowledgeable and experienced candidate for the position of register of deeds.”

But Nioce countered that mapping and appraisal skills aren’t a prerequisite for being register of deeds.

She said a college degree isn’t even required — though Nioce has a degree in education from Washburn University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Nioce said of Crane: “She’s an appraiser. And if she were applying for the county appraiser or maybe perhaps a surveyor’s job — because she does have that mapping knowledge — I would think that she would be more qualified than me. But she has no experience in this office, so I think I’m more qualified, because I have a year of experience working in this office.”

Crane countered that she considers it important for the register of deeds to know a lot about surveying and mapping so employees will feel more comfortable approaching him or her with questions or problems.

Crane said the last county’s three registers of deeds — Nichols, Joan Sherrer, who was in office from 1987 to 1997, and Jean O’Brien, who served from 1967 to 1987 — all had skill sets similar to Crane’s.

But Nioce said she has proved her ability to be an effective register of deeds, as reflected by her accomplishments in office.

She said: “We have streamlined the way our county processes sales validation questionnaire forms, reducing about 30 minutes of staff time per day. We created a system to save time and money by working with the county clerk’s office to place their certification stamp on documents electronically. Since I took office, we have increased ‘e-recording,’ or accepting documents and payments electronically, from 35 percent to 44 percent, saving valuable staff time.”

Nioce added that she has worked hard to be a good steward of the financial resources entrusted to her.

She noted that as a result of a 10 percent cut commissioners made this year to her office’s budget, her number of employees had to be reduced at the beginning of the year to three from four.

“It has been rewarding to find ways to overcome this challenge,” Nioce said. “We adjusted employee work hours, streamlined our document processing and changed our phone system to accommodate. We are in the middle of the busy real estate season and are continuing to offer excellent service despite this loss.”

Shawnee County’s register of deeds is paid $57,500 a year. The office is located in the county courthouse at 200 S.E. 7th.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of
civility. Posts and comments do not reflect the views of this site.
Posts and comments are automatically checked for inappropriate
language, but readers might find some comments offensive or
inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the
"Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Melissa Crane is a property appraiser and geographic information systems/cadastral specialist for the property valuation division of the Kansas Department of Revenue. She has 13 years in the title insurance industry and more than 20 years in state and local government, and has held supervisory positions.

Becky Nioce was appointed by Brownback Republican delegates when Marilyn Nichols resigned. She has lost twice to outstanding Kansas House of Representatives member Annie Kuether.

And don't forget in the recent budget submission Nioce put absolutely NOTHING in her budget for office supplies. When asked about it by the County Commission she laughed it off and said they'd just have to ask for donations. Hardly a professional way to run an office. Nioce has no business being in office. Melissa Crane is exceptionally well qualified for the office.

Becky Nioce is a little lady with big drive. She doesn’t know how to be idle and takes every task very seriously. There is no job that cannot be made better, and she is forever seeking ways to do it more efficiently and productively while decreasing expenses.
Melissa Crane is qualified to keep the Register of Deeds office running smoothly. I have no doubt of that.
Becky, however, has proven that she can and will improve the office.
And she has the drive to win in November.
Condie

Researching deeds, for title insurance purposes and ownership for appraisal records requires spending a lot of time in the Register of Deeds office. I would think 35 years doing that kind of work equals more than 1 year of actual time spent in recorders offices.

If you were interviewing these two people for this job and it was not an elected position who would you hire?

Budgets are getting cut every day. Yet people expect the same level of service, for less taxes. This takes leadership with fresh ideas and new ways of thinking. The world is changing faster than ever before. If you stand still, you’re moving backwards.

Becky does not stand still.

In one year she has not only found a way to survive when she was forced to cut her staff by 25% but she has found a way to thrive. She’s gone line by line through every standard operating procedure that the office has been using successfully for decades and found ways to streamline processes to keep ahead of this ever changing world. Technology is her friend as she is determined to turn the ship from a paper based office to a 21st century paperless operation. She is committed to preserving our property records digitally, rather than relying on microfilm and dusty file cabinets that have been used because “that’s just the way it’s always been done.” And she’s done all this, in a county where her office budget per capita is one of the lowest in the state. Just think what she can accomplish if given the opportunity to serve out the remainder of the term.

We need efficiency. We need more done with less. We need fresh innovative thinkers. We need Becky Nioce.

Becky Nioce has shown exceptional people and administrative skills in her office. She has improved the efficiency and has cut down processing time. She shows great courtesy to those who utilize her office.

When I talked with Ms. Crane at the candidate selection meeting, I told her I had left my beloved Democrat party because they had moved too far away from my unchanged belief system. When I asked her why she switched party affiliation, she just looked at me and turned and walked away. Apparently then she didn't know why she had switched except to have a better chance of getting the selection.

I work in the Register Of Deeds office. I love having Becky Nioce as my boss. She had a lot to learn at first but she is doing a great job.

About the budget, all departments were asked by commissioners (who represent you the people by the way) to provide a flat budget. She did everything she could to stay within that. Most people don't know that she pays for a lot of things out of her own pocket. She really cares about being a good steward of tax payer dollars. It would be a great idea for you the people to keep her in office!!

I'm a real estate broker and I am involved with many real estate transactions per year and come in contact with most Realtors, title companies and lenders in our area. I haven't heard a single complaint about the Register of Deeds office, nor have I had any problems with a real estate transaction due to this office. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I also have the privilege of knowing Becky and her family personally and they are of the highest integrity and moral character. I know Becky to be a very smart, hard worker, determined and committed to whatever the task is at hand. With her intellect, I'm sure this job is well within her capabilities and her performance speaks to this already.

Don't know either lady, but I have noticed Crane's campaign signs on a large number of Lindemuth's properties around town. Ms. Crane might well be God's gift to deed registration, and may have had nothing to do with the placement of these signs, but it does raise some concerns. The last thing Mr. Lindemuth needs is any sort of relationship with any county official who has anything to do with the handling of property.

She has a heart of gold, and by all accounts has done a great job so far. I worked for two title insurance companies for over ten years. Much of that time spent in the RoD office. I worked there with Jean, Joan and Marilyn. I think Becky is the clear choice to carry on the tradition. Her opponent, Republican come lately and a career bureaucrat. If she is such a whiz with GIS systems, she should become county appraiser or surveyor.